AB1137: Bill Text

AB1137,17,5 107.30 (15) “Prospecting" means engaging in the examination of an area for the purpose of determining the quality and quantity of minerals, other than for exploration but including the obtaining of an ore sample, by such physical means as excavating, trenching, construction of shafts, ramps, and tunnels and other means, other than for exploration, which the department of natural resources, by rule, identifies, and the production of prospecting refuse and other associated activities. “Prospecting" does not include such activities when the activities are, by themselves, intended for and capable of commercial exploitation of the underlying ore body. The fact that prospecting activities and construction may have use ultimately in mining, if approved, does not mean that prospecting activities and construction constitute mining within the meaning of sub. (8), provided such activities and construction are reasonably related to prospecting requirements has the meaning given in s. 293.01 (18).

AB1137,62 Section 62. 107.30 (16) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,17,9 107.30 (16) “Prospecting site" means the lands on which prospecting is actually conducted as well as those lands on which physical disturbance will occur as a result of such activity has the meaning given in s. 293.01 (21).

AB1137,63 Section 63. 160.19 (12) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,17,17 160.19 (12) The requirements in this section shall not apply to rules governing an activity regulated under ch. 293 or subch. III of ch. 295, or to a solid waste facility regulated under subch. III of ch. 289 which is part of an activity regulated under ch. 293 or subch. III of ch. 295, except that the department may promulgate new rules or amend rules governing this type of activity, practice or facility if the department determines that the amendment or promulgation of rules is necessary to protect public health, safety or welfare.

AB1137,64 Section 64. 196.491 (3) (a) 3. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,18,8 196.491 (3) (a) 3. b. Except as provided under subd. 3. c., within Within 20 days after the department provides a listing specified in subd. 3. a. to a person, the person shall apply for the permits and approvals identified in the listing. The department shall determine whether an application under this subd. 3. b. is complete and, no later than 30 days after the application is filed, notify the applicant about the determination. If the department determines that the application is incomplete, the notice shall state the reason for the determination. An applicant may supplement and refile an application that the department has determined to be incomplete. There is no limit on the number of times that an applicant may refile an application under this subd. 3. b. If the department fails to determine whether an application is complete within 30 days after the application is filed, the application shall be considered to be complete. Except as provided in s. 30.025 (4), the department shall complete action on an application under this subd. 3. b. for any permit or approval that is required prior to construction of a facility within 120 days after the date on which the application is determined or considered to be complete.

AB1137,65 Section 65. 196.491 (3) (a) 3. c. of the statutes is repealed.

AB1137,66 Section 66. 196.491 (4) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,18,18 196.491 (4) (b) 2. The person shows to the satisfaction of the commission that the person reasonably anticipates, at the time that construction of the equipment or facilities commences, that on each day that the equipment and facilities are in operation the person will consume no less than 70 percent of the aggregate kilowatt hours output from the equipment and facilities in manufacturing processes at the site where the equipment and facilities are located or in ferrous mineral mining and processing activities governed by subch. III of ch. 295 at the site where the equipment and facilities are located.

AB1137,67 Section 67 . 227.42 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1137,18,21 227.42 (4) This section does not apply if a hearing on the matter was conducted as a part of a hearing under s. 293.43.

AB1137,68 Section 68. 227.483 (3) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1137,69 Section 69 . 281.35 (5) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,19,2 281.35 (5) (e) Right to hearing. Any Except as provided in s. 227.42 (4), any person who receives notice of a denial or modification requirement under par. (c) is entitled to a contested case hearing under ch. 227 if the person requests the hearing within 30 days after receiving the notice.

AB1137,70 Section 70. 281.36 (3g) (h) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,19,10 281.36 (3g) (h) 2. If, within 30 days after an application under subd. 1. is received by the department, the department does not either request additional information or inform the applicant that a wetland individual permit will be required as provided in par. (i), the discharge shall be considered to be authorized under the wetland general permit and the applicant may proceed without further notice, hearing, permit, or approval if the discharge is carried out in compliance with all of the conditions of the general permit, except as provided in s. 295.60 (3) (b).

AB1137,71 Section 71. 281.65 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,19,24 281.65 (2) (a) “Best management practices" means practices, techniques or measures, except for dredging, identified in areawide water quality management plans, which are determined to be effective means of preventing or reducing pollutants generated from nonpoint sources, or from the sediments of inland lakes polluted by nonpoint sources, to a level compatible with water quality objectives established under this section and which do not have an adverse impact on fish and wildlife habitat. The practices, techniques or measures include land acquisition, storm sewer rerouting and the removal of structures necessary to install structural urban best management practices, facilities for the handling and treatment of milkhouse wastewater, repair of fences built using grants under this section and measures to prevent or reduce pollutants generated from mine tailings disposal sites for which the department has not approved a plan of operation under s. 289.30 or s. 295.51.

AB1137,72 Section 72. 281.75 (17) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,20,2 281.75 (17) (b) This section does not apply to contamination which is compensable under subch. II of ch. 107 or s. 293.65 (4) or 295.61 (8).

AB1137,73 Section 73. 283.84 (3m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,20,7 283.84 (3m) A person engaged in mining, as defined in s. 293.01 (9) or 295.41 (26), prospecting, as defined in s. 293.01 (18), bulk sampling, as defined in s. 293.01 (2m) or 295.41 (7), or nonmetallic mining, as defined in s. 295.11 (3), may not enter into an agreement under sub. (1).

AB1137,74 Section 74. 287.13 (5) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,20,14 287.13 (5) (e) Solid waste produced by a commercial business or industry which is disposed of or held for disposal in an approved facility, as defined under s. 289.01 (3), or a mining waste site, as defined in s. 295.41 (31), covered by a mining permit under s. 295.58, owned or leased by the generator or on which the generator holds an easement, and designed and constructed for the purpose of accepting that type of solid waste.

AB1137,75 Section 75. 289.62 (2) (g) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,20,17 289.62 (2) (g) 2. For nonhazardous tailing solids or for nonacid producing taconite tailing solids, 0.2 cent per ton.

AB1137,76 Section 76. 289.62 (2) (g) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,20,20 289.62 (2) (g) 6. For nonhazardous waste rock or for nonacid producing taconite waste rock, 0.1 cent per ton.

AB1137,77 Section 77. 292.01 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,20,23 292.01 (1m) “Approved mining facility" has the meaning given in s. 289.01 (4) and includes a mining waste site, as defined in s. 295.41 (31).

AB1137,78 Section 78. Chapter 293 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,20,25 CHAPTER 293

AB1137,21,1 NONFERROUS METALLIC MINING

AB1137,79 Section 79 . 293.01 (2m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1137,80 Section 80. 293.01 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,21,10 293.01 (5) “Mineral exploration" or “exploration", unless the context requires otherwise, means the on-site geologic examination from the surface of an area by core, rotary, percussion or other drilling, where the diameter of the hole does not exceed 18 inches, for the purpose of searching for nonferrous metallic minerals or establishing the nature of a known nonferrous metallic mineral deposit, and includes associated activities such as clearing and preparing sites or constructing roads for drilling.

AB1137,81 Section 81. 293.01 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,21,21 293.01 (7) “Merchantable by-product" means all waste soil, rock, mineral, liquid, vegetation and other material directly resulting from or displaced by the mining, cleaning or preparation of nonferrous metallic minerals during mining operations which are determined by the department to be marketable upon a showing of marketability made by the operator, accompanied by a verified statement by the operator of his or her intent to sell such material within 3 years from the time it results from or is displaced by mining. If after 3 years from the time merchantable by-product results from or is displaced by mining such material has not been transported off the mining site, it shall be considered and regulated as refuse unless removal is continuing at a rate of more than 12,000 cubic yards per year.

AB1137,82 Section 82. 293.01 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1137,21,24 293.01 (8) “Minerals" mean unbeneficiated metallic ore but does not include mineral aggregates such as stone, sand, and gravel.

AB1137,83 Section 83. 293.01 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,22,5 293.01 (9) “Mining" or “mining operation" means all or part of the process involved in the mining of nonferrous metallic minerals, other than for exploration, bulk sampling, or prospecting, including commercial extraction, agglomeration, beneficiation, construction of roads, removal of overburden and the production of refuse.

AB1137,84 Section 84. 293.01 (12) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,22,12 293.01 (12) “Mining site" means the surface area disturbed by a mining operation, including the surface area from which the nonferrous metallic minerals or refuse or both have been removed, the surface area covered by refuse, all lands disturbed by the construction or improvement of haulageways, and any surface areas in which structures, equipment, materials and any other things used in the mining operation are situated.

AB1137,85 Section 85. 293.01 (12m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1137,86 Section 86. 293.01 (18) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,23,2 293.01 (18) “Prospecting" means engaging in the examination of an area for the purpose of determining the quality and quantity of nonferrous metallic minerals, other than for exploration or bulk sampling but including the obtaining of a nonferrous metallic mineral an ore sample, by such physical means as excavating, trenching, construction of shafts, ramps and tunnels and other means, other than for exploration or bulk sampling, which the department, by rule, identifies, and the production of prospecting refuse and other associated activities. “Prospecting" shall not include such activities when the activities are, by themselves, intended for and capable of commercial exploitation of the underlying nonferrous ore body. However, the fact that prospecting activities and construction may have use ultimately in mining, if approved, shall not mean that prospecting activities and construction constitute mining within the meaning of sub. (9), provided such activities and construction are reasonably related to prospecting requirements.

AB1137,87 Section 87. 293.01 (25) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,23,9 293.01 (25) “Refuse" means all waste soil, rock, mineral, liquid, vegetation and other material, except merchantable by-products, directly resulting from or displaced by the prospecting or mining and from the cleaning or preparation of nonferrous metallic minerals during prospecting or mining operations, and shall include all waste materials deposited on or in the prospecting or mining site from other sources.

AB1137,88 Section 88 . 293.13 (2) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,23,12 293.13 (2) (b) (intro.) Minimum standards for exploration, bulk sampling, prospecting, and mining shall include the following:

AB1137,89 Section 89 . 293.13 (2) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,23,15 293.13 (2) (b) 4. Adequate diversion and drainage of water from the exploration, bulk sampling, prospecting, or mining site.

AB1137,90 Section 90 . 293.13 (2) (b) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,23,18 293.13 (2) (b) 7. Removal and stockpiling, or other measures to protect topsoils prior to exploration, bulk sampling, prospecting, or mining.

AB1137,91 Section 91 . 293.13 (2) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,23,22 293.13 (2) (c) (intro.) Minimum standards for reclamation of exploration and bulk sampling sites, where appropriate, and for prospecting and mining sites shall conform to s. 293.01 (23) and include provision for the following:

AB1137,92 Section 92 . 293.13 (2) (c) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,24,2 293.13 (2) (c) 7. Revegetation to stabilize disturbed soils and prevent air and water pollution, with the objective of reestablishing a variety of populations of plants and animals indigenous to the area immediately prior to exploration, bulk sampling, prospecting, or mining.

AB1137,93 Section 93 . 293.15 (7m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1137,94 Section 94 . 293.15 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,24,11 293.15 (8) Promulgate rules regulating the production, storage and disposal of radioactive waste from exploration, bulk sampling, prospecting, or mining after seeking comments from the department of health services. At a minimum, rules promulgated under this subsection shall achieve the margin of safety provided in applicable federal statutes and regulations. If the department promulgates rules under this subsection, the department shall investigate the need for standards more restrictive than the applicable federal statutes and regulations.

AB1137,95 Section 95. 293.21 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,24,14 293.21 (1) (a) “Driller" means a person who performs core, rotary, percussion or other drilling involved in exploration for nonferrous metallic minerals.

AB1137,96 Section 96. 293.25 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,24,23 293.25 (2) (a) Applicability. Except as provided under par. (b), ss. 293.21 and 293.81 and rules promulgated under those sections apply to radioactive waste site exploration, to activities related to radioactive waste site exploration and to persons engaging in or intending to engage in radioactive waste site exploration or related activities in the same manner as those sections and rules are applicable to nonferrous metallic mineral exploration, to activities related to nonferrous metallic mineral exploration and to persons engaging in or intending to engage in nonferrous metallic mineral exploration or related activities.

AB1137,97 Section 97. 293.25 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,25,9 293.25 (4) Regulation of exploration and related provisions. Sections 293.13, 293.15 (1) to (12), 293.85, 293.87 and 293.89 and rules promulgated under those sections apply to radioactive waste site exploration, to activities related to radioactive waste site exploration and to persons engaging in or intending to engage in radioactive waste site exploration or related activities in the same manner as those sections and rules are applicable to nonferrous metallic mineral exploration, to activities related to nonferrous metallic mineral exploration and to persons engaging in or intending to engage in nonferrous metallic mineral exploration or related activities.

AB1137,98 Section 98 . 293.26 of the statutes is repealed.

AB1137,99 Section 99 . 293.31 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,25,12 293.31 (title) Preapplication notification; data Data collection.

AB1137,100 Section 100 . 293.31 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,26,22 293.31 (1) At least 12 months before filing an application for a prospecting permit under s. 293.35 or a mining permit under s. 293.37, a person proposing to engage in a prospecting or mining project shall notify the department in writing of the intention to apply for a prospecting or mining permit. A person who intends to give notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit may, prior to obtaining, collecting, or generating environmental data intended to be used to support the permit application, submit to the department the methodology that the person intends to use in obtaining, collecting, or generating the data. The department shall review the proposed methodology and shall either inform the person that the proposed methodology will be accepted by the department or provide the person with the methodology that the department requires to be used. The department may assess the person submitting the proposed methodology a fee equal to the department's costs for reviewing the proposed methodology. If a Any person obtains, collects, or generates intending to submit an application for a prospecting or mining permit shall notify the department prior to the collection of data or information intended to be used to support a prospecting or mining the permit application without obtaining department approval of the person's methodology under sub. (4), the department may not exclude any of the data or information that consists of application. Specific environmental data which would be pertinent to a specific prospecting or mining application, but which was obtained or collected or generated prior to the notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit, shall be submitted in writing to the department together with any substantiating background information which would assist the department in establishing the validity of the data. The department shall review the data and, if it concludes that the benefits of permitting the admission of the data outweigh the policy reasons for excluding it, and if the data is otherwise admissible, inform the person giving the notice of intent to prospect or mine that the data will be accepted by the department. Such exclusion shall not relate to general environmental information such as soil characteristics, hydrologic conditions, and air and water data contained in publications, maps, documents, studies, reports, and similar sources, whether public or private, not prepared by or for the applicant. Such exclusion shall likewise not relate to data that is otherwise admissible and collected prior to notification under this subsection for purposes of evaluating another site and that is not collected with intent to evade the provisions of this section.

AB1137,101 Section 101 . 293.31 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,27,3 293.31 (2) Upon receipt of notification under sub. (1), the department shall give public notice of the notification in the same manner as provided under s. 293.43 (2m) (3) (b).

AB1137,102 Section 102 . 293.31 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,27,12 293.31 (3) The department shall also receive and consider any comments from interested persons received within 45 days after public notice is given under sub. (2) as to the information which they believe should be requested from the person giving notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit and the information which they believe the department should seek through independent studies. If the department holds a public informational hearing to receive comments from interested persons under this section, the hearing shall be completed within 45 days after public notice is given under sub. (2).

AB1137,103 Section 103 . 293.31 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,28,6 293.31 (4) No later than 90 days after the period for receiving and considering After the receipt and consideration of comments from interested persons under sub. (3), the department shall inform the person giving notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit of the type and quantity of information that it then believes to be needed to support an application and, where applicable, the methodology to be used in gathering information. The department shall specifically inform the person giving notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit of the type and quantity of information on the characteristics of groundwater resources in the area in which prospecting or mining is anticipated to occur which the department believes is needed to support an application, including the information that the department believes should be included in the applicant's environmental impact report and the information that the department will need to prepare an environmental impact statement. The department shall also inform begin informing the person giving notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit of as to the timely application date and other filing requirements for all other approvals, licenses, and permits relating to the proposed prospecting or mining project so as to facilitate the consideration of all other matters at the hearing on the prospecting or mining permit.

AB1137,104 Section 104 . 293.31 (4m) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1137,105 Section 105 . 293.32 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1137,106 Section 106. 293.37 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,28,20 293.37 (4) (b) If the department finds that the anticipated life and total area of a nonferrous metallic mineral deposit are of sufficient magnitude that reclamation of the mining site consistent with this chapter requires a comprehensive plan for the entire affected area, it shall require an operator to submit with the application for a mining permit, amended mining site or change in mining or reclamation plan, a comprehensive long-term plan showing, in detail satisfactory to the department, the manner, location and time for reclamation of the entire area of contiguous land which will be affected by mining and which is owned, leased or under option for purchase or lease by the operator at the time of application. Where a nonferrous metallic mineral deposit lies on or under the lands of more than one operator, the department shall require the operators to submit mutually consistent comprehensive plans.

AB1137,107 Section 107 . 293.37 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

AB1137,108 Section 108 . 293.40 of the statutes is repealed.

AB1137,109 Section 109 . 293.43 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1137,28,25 293.43 (1) Applicability. This section, and ch. 227 where it is consistent, shall govern all hearings on applications for prospecting or mining permits.

AB1137,110 Section 110. 293.43 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: